This forum will be a dynamic and insightful exploration of the evolving landscape of remote employment, featuring industry experts and thought leaders sharing their knowledge and experiences.

Key Highlights:

• $700 Million RJED Program: Delve into the Federal Government’s latest initiative, the Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program (RJED), launching in September. RJED and CDP will need to work together to deliver the jobs and workers needed in remote areas of Australia. Despite RJED being scheduled to commence in September there is a long way to go ensure program success. Let's collaborate together in this discussion.
• The Role of Employment Services: Gain insights into how Employment Services, currently encompassed by the Community Development Program (CDP), will integrate within the RJED program, ensuring a seamless transition and maximised job opportunities in remote areas.
• Learning from History: Reflect on the lessons learnt from the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) and the ongoing Trials. Our discussions will explore how these insights can guide the successful implementation of RJED.
• Social Enterprise and Economic Sustainability: Explore the evolution of the social enterprise sector and its potential to significantly impact remote communities through innovative and sustainable economic models.
• Addressing the NDIS Challenge: With the NDIS fuelling a significant portion of new job creation in Australia, yet over half of disability providers are facing financial sustainability challenges, our forum will delve into strategies for delivering these services in a more sustainable way, particularly in remote areas.
• The Future of Remote Employment Services: As Australia's employment services undergo extensive reform, including Workforce Australia and Disability Employment Services (DES), we will examine the implications for remote employment services and the anticipated reforms.
• Expert Insights: Benefit from the knowledge and expertise of sector leaders as Jobs Australia brings together a panel of distinguished experts to help organisations navigate the evolving landscape of remote employment.

This forum is an invaluable opportunity for professionals, service providers, and stakeholders in the sector to come together, share knowledge, and collaboratively forge paths towards a prosperous future for remote employment in Australia. 

We look forward to your participation in what promises to be a highly insightful and forward-thinking interactive forum.

Speakers and Agenda

Session 1: The Role of Social Entrepreneurship in the New Remote Jobs and

Economic Development Program (RJED).

Session speaker: Matt Pfahlert – Founder/Director of ACRE.

Session information: A whole community approach is required to achieve sustainable jobs. Matt Pfahlert from the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE) has been using the vehicle of social enterprise and entrepreneurship to rejuvenate communities for over 30 years. Matt will share practical examples from Australia and overseas of the key ingredients required for communities to become agile, resilient and enterprising.

Session 2: Lessons from the Community Development Employment Projects program (CDEP)

Session speaker: Rob Knight - Director of the Market Enablement Branch of the National Disability Insurance Agency.

Session information: The new Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program (RJED) is all about job creation and has picked up many of the elements of the previous Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP). It will be valuable to revisit what CDEP was about, how it worked and importantly what lessons we can take forward into the new RJED. 

Session 3: The future Role of Employment Services

Session speaker: Bryan McCormick – Senior Advisor Government & Policy at Jobs Australia.

Session information: Employment Services currently encompassed by the Community Development Program (CDP) will integrate within the RJED program. This will be necessary to ensure a seamless transition and to maximise job opportunities in remote areas. Australia’s employment services are about to undergo extensive reform, including Workforce Australia and Disability Employment Services (DES). These reforms will have implications for remote employment services. 

Session 4: Digital Entrepreneurship at Community Level

Session speakers: 

 Dr Donna Odegaard AM - Indigenous Film Maker, Media Consultant, Leader and Business Woman, Founder/CEO First Nations Broadcasting Australia..

Chris Hayward – Executive Director Partnerships and Growth at Carers NT Australia.

Session information: The development of online businesses by indigenous entrepreneurs and content creators is a rapidly expanding opportunity for remote Australia. Our youth in particular have demonstrated a willingness to participate in employment and training in all areas of digital technology for Television, Film, Digital Radio, Digital Media, Digital Engineering and IT.

Session 5: NDIS Opportunities

Session speaker: Samantha Hill – Founder & CEO at Real Life Assistants.

Session information: NDIS, Social Enterprise and Sustainable Business Models. The NDIS opens up a world of opportunities for people with disability and community enterprises. The funding of peer support models can drive inclusion and business sustainability. Real Life Assistants has successfully applied the model to businesses including a hairdressing salon, car wash, garden maintenance, kiosk and more. 

Session 6: Bringing it all Together - Sustainability

Session information: The common thread through all of the topics is the challenges in achieving sustainability. For example, over half of all disability service providers are losing money. Social enterprise does not have a good track record of longevity. How do you create businesses and jobs in a sustainable way? Our presenters will combine their collective experience and skill to discuss strategies and examples to demonstrate how jobs can be created sustainably.

Speaker Biographies